When Abe came home that evening he sat in the car for a long while just thinking. During the past thirty years he had come to terms with the fact that there might only be one of his kind and that solving the mystery of his origin might be out of his reach. Examining that creature had shaken this believe to the core. It didn't seem as highly evolved as he was, but there was no doubt that they were connected. Like Humans were to a Neanderthal. He had kept his promise to Louise and brought a tissue sample home so he could work in his own lab. He had also brought home some of the artefacts that was found, where and when he was. He tried to compose himself and let those thoughts rest for a while. He wanted to spent time with Louise, because Monday always came sooner than he wished. He placed the sample and artefacts in the lab before walking upstairs. He could hear Sarah (Liz and Red's daughter) talking as he went upstairs. When he went into the room he could see her talking to Louise and Liz at the dining table. The expression on Louise's face almost made him chuckle. It looked like confused amusement. She smiled brightly as she saw him and he walked over and kissed her, while standing behind her.
"Is something wrong?" She asked in a low voice, while Sarah was talking to Liz.
"I can't tell you about it, but I'm fine." Abe replied. She nodded with understanding as she stroked his cheek and gave him another kiss.
"Abe, when are you and Louise getting married?" Sarah asked looking at him.
"Excuse me?" Abe replied as his eyes widened and Louise laughed.
"You just prepare yourself. I have been listening to this all day." Louise smiled at him.
"I'm afraid she has given up on getting Red to marry me, so now you are her next victims." Liz smiled and looked at her daughter as if correcting her behaviour.
"I mean it. Don't you love her?" Sarah almost whined.
"Well, yes... of course." Abe replied taken aback by the question and felt heat rise to his cheeks. Confessing his feelings this openly, wasn't really something he was comfortable with.
"Then you should marry her." Sarah stated as a matter of factly.
"And I don't get a say in this? Perhaps I don't want to get married." Louise chuckled.
"Why not? You get a dress and cake." Sarah explained.
"Mmmhhmm... Not to mention a flower girl with a pretty dress." Louise remarked knowingly and Abe chuckled.
"Yes. And Abe should propose." Sarah said a little exited.
"Alright... will you marry me?" Abe asked casually, looking down at Louise with a teasing expression.
"Hmmm... I guess so." Louise sighed indifferently, going along with his teasing and sure enough Sarah whined.
"No, you are doing it wrong." She whined crossing her arms.
"You have been watching far too much TV, young lady." Liz stated giving Sarah a look that told her to stop her complaining. Sarah let out a sigh and walked away from the table disappointed. Abe chuckled before he walked into the library.
"Sorry about that. She has been pestering Red and me all week." Liz smiled and Louise chuckled.
"That's alright. I'll better go check on Abraham. I think he had a long day." Louise replied and Liz nodded.
When Louise walked into the library, Abe was standing near a bookshelf as if searching for a book. However it was obvious to her that he was deep in thought. Something was bothering him and not only what ever happened today. She walked up behind him and placed her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back. He held his hands on hers and began stroking her arms.
"I'm sorry that I worried you." He said in a slightly sad voice.
"Don't be. That's why you have me, to worry and make sure you are feeling well... That and look pretty of course." She smiled saying the first kindly and the latter sarcastically. Abe chuckled lightly, before lifting one of her hands and kissing it.
"I love you." She said in a low voice as she hugged him tighter. He turned around and looked down at her.
"I love you too." He replied stroking her hair before she stood up on her toes and kissed him.
"Mind telling me, what is really brothering you? And I don't mean whatever you are working on." She asked seriously.
"I can't... the two seems to be intertwined at the moment and I don't know where to begin." He replied in a sad voice. Louise looked up at him with a worried expression.
"Love, you are shivering." She stated as saw pain in his eyes. She pulled him close and hugged him.
"Just... don't let go." He whispered and pulled her even closer, almost crushing her.
How could he tell her, all that he was feeling? He was confused about the nature of his existence and what it meant to him, that there might be others like him. How could he tell her that he recently turned 147 and was still young, when that led to the fact that in time he was going to live without her? How could he tell her, that all he truly wanted was to have a real life and a family with her, when she seemed terrified of the idea? How could he tell her, that he knew she was attracted to Michael, even as he knew she would not act on it? How could express all these emotions that he never believed he would have opportunity to feel? How could he tell her, that a part of him had begun to despise what he is, because it meant so much separation from her? She pulled back a little and looked him in the eyes with a serious expression.
"Did you know I have the most amazing boyfriend in the world?" She asked with a smile.
"You do?" He asked as he returned her smile.
"I do. You see, he is awfully intelligent, incredibly kind, has a wonderful sense of humour and when he looks at me it is like nothing else exists. And he is cute too." She smiled brightly up at him.
"Cute?" He asked with a hint of disbelief.
"Very. He has these deep blue eyes that are so expressive, that it sometimes feels like I'm drowning in them. His skin has this beautiful pattern that I have spent hours studying, as he slept, memorising every inch of it. He also does this cute thing with his gills, when he is nervous or shy. It's very endearing." She smiled and he immediately got shy.
"And there it is." She said in a high pitched voice as she smiled brightly. She then turned very serious.
"I love you and only you." She said as she kissed him and he deepened it.
"I transferred some of my emotions by accident didn't I?" He breathed as he pulled away.
"A little perhaps, but I knew from the way you behaved this morning. I wish you would tell me instead of hiding it." The look she gave him was not disappointed exactly or hurt. It was one of genuine concern and that made the ache in his heart much worse.
"I didn't want to worry you." He explained, feeling guilty all of a sudden.
"I know. In a few weeks I'll come home for good and I don't plan on leaving again." She smiled at him and stroked his cheek.
"In fact, I plan on spending at least a full week in bed with you after my graduation." She smiled with that look of mischief that he adored, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He gave a low chuckle.
"I look forward to it." He replied lovingly before kissing her.
- OOO -
Louise had to admit that she was disappointed that Abe had to work, but she knew he would not do it unless it was important. Instead she had decided to do some cleaning, since it was to become her permanent home it was only fair. It also helped her to take her mind of Abe's worries. Whatever he discovered yesterday had shocked him and with all the things he had witnessed over the years, it had to be something extraordinary. She knew she couldn't ask and normally that didn't bother her, but this seemed much more personal. The thoughts were pushed away as she looked at her next task; Polishing the glass on the outside of Abe's tank. She almost got tired by just looking at it, but she knew he would appreciate it. He didn't use it much, when she was home and she found herself wondering how much he used it, when she wasn't. She was almost done, when she heard the door open and saw Abe's reflection.
"You don't have to do that." He smiled as he put the box he was carrying on the desk.
"I wanted to. Done for today?" Louise asked as she walked towards him.
"Not quite. I wanted to take a look at some of these artefacts, but I thought I could do it in your company." He replied as he picked up some of the things from the box.
"Can I have a look or is it for your eyes only?" She asked standing a few feet away.
"You can look. These belong to me. I just haven't collected them from the bureau's archive before yesterday." He explained.
"Why haven't you brought them home, if they are yours?" Louise asked as she stood next to him.
"The professor left them to me in his will. They were found when I was. They didn't have any sentimental value, so I didn't think to take them with me, when I left the bureau."
"I hardly blame you. Some of this stuff is barely anything but rubbish." Louise stated looking down in the box. There were a few old figurines, but most of it was old books with mould on them and even a broken cane.
"I think the professor thought I could use my abilities, to get some information from them." He mused.
"Could you?" Louise asked with curiosity.
"Yes, but nothing of interest to us. Mostly just a few of people's memories and nothing important."
As they started to empty the box they didn't find much of interest. In the bottom of it Louise found a small wooden shrine and she opened it. Inside she found a beautiful necklace with a blue stone.
"Hey, look at this." She said picking it up and showing it to Abe.
"Aah yes. That one was a betrothal gift. It didn't reveal much else I'm afraid."
"It's very beautiful. Silver?" She asked as she studied it.
"White gold. Would you like to have it?" He asked with a smile and she widened her eyes looking at him.
"I couldn't take this." She said with a smile. He walked up behind her and took the necklace. He put it around her neck and then placed a kiss next to the chain.
"I want you to have it. I don't plan on using it myself." He joked.
"I don't know, blue is really more your colour than mine." She teased with a smile and he gave a low chuckle.
"It looks lovely on you all the same. It needs to be cleaned though." He replied holding his hands on her shoulders.
"I'll do that... Look at me snatching your heirlooms." She smiled teasingly.
"I always knew you were after my money." He joked and she gave a small laugh. She looked at the blue clear stone and her heart skipped a beat. It was almost as if she could see his reflection in it and the love she felt for him suddenly became overwhelming. She turned around and looked at him as her heart kept beating almost unnaturally fast.
"Thank you. It means a lot to me." She said with an intense, serious and loving gaze, which surprised her.
"You are welcome." Abe replied, also a little stunned by the sudden seriousness.
Louise felt her heart bursting, as if something she had longed for in ages had finally happened. She loved Abe, but at this moment it seemed almost like an obsession. It consumed her to the point where she felt nothing else. She wrapped her arms almost possessively around his neck and kissed him. Abe was surprised, but didn't get time to fully understand what was happening, before he had to grab on to the table to prevent them for falling. She leaned against the table and pulled him closer. He closed his eyes bending forward against her, deepening the kiss further. As his hands started roaming over her back, he felt her emotions and got caught in the same whirlpool of desperate longing. He could not get her close enough and she was holding onto him as if afraid of letting go. He kept kissing her, the kisses becoming more passionate with every passing second. The sweetness of her lips was intoxicating and he noticed nothing beyond that. She lay down on the table, pulling her with him. He kissed her jaw, neck and the fabric covering her breasts. He kept kissing his way down to her hips as she dug her fingernails into his shoulders and gasped. As he lifted her shirt to kiss her hip, her back arched and she pushed down the box. By the sound of the box falling onto the floor, it was like they were both ripped out of a trance. They looked at each other equally stunned. Abe cleared his throat as he looked down at her.
"I think it might be wise to stop before this goes any further. There are young people still awake." He said with regret evident in his voice, as he tried to catch his breath.
"Yes, I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me." She smiled sheepishly.
"No need. I was enjoying it actually. I must be absolutely mad to stop it." He chuckled.
"Not mad, just sensible." She replied as she sat up again.
And as if on cue Trevor walked into the library crying, with Sarah right behind him. Louise quickly jumped of the table. Abe looked at her and they shared a knowing glance, as they both found it very hard not to laugh.
"Why are you crying sweetheart?" Louise asked giving Trevor a concerned look.
"He fell outside and hurt his hand." Sarah explained as her brother was sobbing too hard to speak.
"Oh dear... I'll have a look at it. Wait in the kitchen and I'll be right there." Abe replied and both children nodded and walked back out the door. He then turned to Louise and leaned into her ear.
"Remind me next time I give you a gift, to do it at a more appropriate hour." He whispered teasingly against her ear before kissing her there, knowing it would send a shiver down her spine. Her responds was to gently swat his arm as she blushed and he walked out of the room. She shook her head lightly at her behaviour, but then paid attention to the necklace. It did need cleaning after years of neglect, so she took it off and went into the kitchen to clean it. With any luck she would have it looking as good as knew.
- OOO -
She was standing on the balcony looking out over the beautiful garden. After having been engaged in every single dance so far, she needed the fresh air. Otherwise her mother would complain about her being too flushed. It was hardly proper for a young lady to show such passion, but she did so love waltzing. She looked down at her dress. It was pale rose and the top had been embroided with roses. She could feel the corset slightly irritating her. It really had to be tight for this dress. "Miss Howard?" A male voice said. She turned around a little surprised. The man was tall, had brown hair and sideburns, grey eyes and was in his late thirties, possibly early forties. He was well looking, but not overly handsome. Still he had a lot of charisma and was considered highly eligible. "You startled me, sir." She smiled shyly. "I humbly apologize. Had I known you were deep in thought I would not have intruded." He smiled kindly. "I was, but that does not mean the intrusion is unwelcome." She said coyly and the time she had used to calm down her flush, seemed to have been in vain. "I am happy to hear it. I was hoping that you might want to dance the next with me, miss Howard." He gave a crocked smile as he held his hand forward. Feeling shy she merely nodded and took his hand. As the dance began she found it hard to look into his eyes. They were so intense and yet when she finally found the courage to do so, she found herself unable to look away. The hand he had placed at her waist seemed to be burning through her dress and corset right to her skin. The skin under her glove tingling as he held her hand in his. The dance ended far sooner than she would have liked and he had hardly led her of the dance floor, before she could see her mother's burning eyes. As soon as he had bowed and taken his leave, her mother was next to her. "Edith, what are you thinking of dancing with that man, when there is so many other eligible young gentlemen here this evening?" She scolded in a low voice. "Mama, he is father's business associate. I could hardly refuse. Besides he is a gentleman, successful and highly educated, I cannot see the impropriety." Edith explained carefully. "I understand that, but keep in mind that you are half his age, child." Her mother answered seriously. As she stood there, she noticed he kept casting discreet glances her way. She had to be mindful of her breathing, but even as she danced with other's it was him who kept appearing in her mind.
Louise awoke and sat up in the bed. She smiled at the sweetness of the dream, but she had no idea what had inspired it. Then again when do dreams make sense? She looked down at Abe who was still sleeping blissfully. She lifted his duvet and snuggled under it as she cuddled up against him. She smiled as he in his sleep wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. As she lay there she didn't want to fall asleep. In a few hours she would have to get up and leave him again. Damn she hated Mondays.
